Philomena wants you to take a walk ...

Local woman and singer Philomena Breslin has got involved with the RISE Foundation set up by singer Frances Black to help families of people with addiction problems, writes Brian Byrne.

And she's hoping that some Kilcullen people will take up an invitation to walk part of the famous 'Camino' to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain, in September, to raise funds for RISE.

The group will spend six days walking 15-25km per day to complete the last 100km of the French Way before arriving in Santiago de Compostela, where they will receive an official pilgrimage certificate.

The cost of the all-in trip is €1,900 per person, of which €1,000 will go directly to the RISE Foundation. The Foundation was set up in 2009, with a mission statement 'to support families impacted by a loved one's addictive behaviour through awareness, eduction and therapy, and to combat the associated shame and stigma'.

The therapeutic programmes offered by RISE reduce families' anxiety, help them to cope, and significantly reduce the level of preoccupation with the loved one's addictive behaviour.

More information about the trip, and about RISE, is available from Philomena, or from Mark at 01 7645131 or mark@therisefoundation.ie.